B.C. Lions’ James Butler (20) runs hall past Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ Stavros Katsantonis (30) during the first half of a CFL football game, in Vancouver, on Sunday, July 27, 2025.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats pulled off a stunning comeback win against the BC Lions, notching a 37-33 victory on Sunday night at Save-on-Foods Field. With this result, the Tiger-Cats now boast their first five-game winning streak since 2019, keeping fans on the edge of their seats throughout the contest.
Mitchell Leads the Charge With Strong Performance
Bo Levi Mitchell was a standout performer for Hamilton. The veteran quarterback threw for 389 yards, three touchdowns, and just one interception. Kiondre Smith proved to be a reliable target, catching for 138 yards and scoring two crucial touchdowns. On the ground, Greg Bell contributed 56 tough yards to support the offense.
Early Lead for Lions as Butler Shines
The game began with promise for the BC Lions. Running back James Butler, facing his former team, opened the scoring with a three-yard touchdown after a quick turnover recovery set the Lions up in strong field position. Butler finished the night with 115 rushing yards and two scores on 16 carries.
Quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 289 yards, while Keon Hatcher made a major impact with 117 receiving yards on just five catches. The Lions’ offense looked sharp early, taking a commanding lead in the first half.
Tiger-Cats Rally Behind Defense and Kicking Game
Hamilton didn’t back down. After an impressive deep throw from Mitchell to Tim White, kicker Marc Liegghio added a 40-yard field goal to keep the Tiger-Cats in the game. Liegghio remained flawless on the season, improving to 16-for-16 and stretching his streak to 31 consecutive made field goals.
Despite Butler scoring again to extend BC's lead, Hamilton struck back. A 21-yard catch by Kenny Lawler set up a one-yard touchdown run by Jake Dolegala, narrowing the gap. Rookie Devin Veresuk forced a fumble that gave Hamilton another chance, leading to a short field goal that made it a one-point game.
Big Plays Define a Back-and-Forth Battle
A huge 73-yard reception by Hatcher set up a short field goal from Sean Whyte, who proved automatic all night. Carter Jr. then intercepted a Mitchell pass in spectacular fashion, helping the Lions extend their lead again with a 33-yard field goal.
But the Tiger-Cats answered in the second half. Mitchell found Smith on a crafty nine-yard shovel pass to tie the game. The Lions responded with another Whyte field goal, this time from 13 yards out.
Hamilton again tied it with a 24-yard field goal by Liegghio, moving into the fourth-longest field goal streak in CFL history.
Late Drama as Tiger-Cats Seal the Win
With six minutes to go, Whyte knocked in a 45-yard kick, giving BC a three-point lead. A fumble by Bell seemed to swing the momentum back in the Lions' favor, and a 43-yard pass to Ayden Eberhardt set up Jeremiah Masoli for a short touchdown run.
But Hamilton wasn’t done. Mitchell launched a 44-yard touchdown to Brendan O’Leary-Orange, his first of the season, bringing the Tiger-Cats within three points. After forcing a quick BC punt, Hamilton took over and drove downfield methodically.
With only 24 seconds left, Mitchell connected with Smith again for a 16-yard gain, setting up first-and-goal. Two plays later, the same duo linked up for a one-yard touchdown, giving Hamilton the lead — and ultimately, the win.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
The BC Lions head into a bye during Week 9, a chance to regroup after a heartbreaking loss. Meanwhile, the red-hot Hamilton Tiger-Cats will look to extend their streak to six when they face the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, August 2nd at 3:00 pm ET.
These two teams will meet again in Week 10 — and after this showdown, fans will be eagerly waiting for the rematch.
